What should I do if bedbugs appear in the house? - briefly
Inspect sleeping areas, seal infested items in plastic bags, treat the environment with a certified insecticide or engage a professional pest‑control service, then launder bedding at ≥120 °F, vacuum seams and crevices, and regularly monitor for new activity.
What should I do if bedbugs appear in the house? - in detail
If small, reddish‑brown insects are found on the mattress or in the seams of furniture, examine the surrounding area with a flashlight and a magnifying lens. Look for live bugs, shed skins, tiny white eggs, and dark spotting that indicates excrement. Confirming the presence of the pest is the first essential step.
Immediately isolate the affected room. Seal the doorway with a plastic barrier and keep clothing, bedding, and personal items in sealed bags or containers. Wash all washable fabrics in hot water (≥ 60 °C) and dry on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes. Non‑washable items can be placed in a freezer at –18 °C for a minimum of 72 hours.
Perform a thorough vacuuming of the mattress, box spring, bed frame, baseboards, and cracks in walls or furniture. Empty the vacuum canister into a sealed bag and discard it outdoors. Follow the vacuuming with steam treatment, using a handheld steamer that reaches ≥ 100 °C; direct the steam at seams, folds, and hidden crevices for several seconds per spot.
Apply residual insecticide sprays or dusts labeled for the target pest, focusing on cracks, crevices, and the undersides of furniture. Use only products that meet regulatory safety standards and follow label instructions regarding concentration, ventilation, and re‑entry intervals. For large infestations, consider heat‑based remediation: raise room temperature to 45–50 °C and maintain for 4–6 hours to eradicate all life stages.
When the infestation exceeds a few rooms or persists after DIY measures, engage a licensed exterminator. Professionals can deploy integrated pest‑management strategies, including desiccant dusts, fumigation, or specialized heat chambers, and will provide a treatment schedule with guaranteed follow‑up visits.
After treatment, continue regular inspections weekly for at least two months. Reduce future risk by encasing mattresses and box springs in zippered protectors, eliminating clutter that offers hiding places, and sealing cracks in walls or flooring. Maintain routine laundering of bedding on high heat and promptly address any new signs of activity.